Thomas Dudley Harmon (September 28, 1919 – March 15, 1990) was a star player in American college football, a sports broadcaster, and patriarch of a family of American actors. As a player, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1940 and is considered by some to be the greatest football player in Michigan Wolverines history.^[1]

Early life[link]

Harmon was born in the Harmon's family home at 118 South Weston Street in Rensselaer, Indiana, in Jasper County. This house stood one block East of the Jasper County Courthouse, and was torn down in 1965. He was the youngest child of Louis A. and Rose Marie (Quinn) Harmon, who first moved to Rensselaer, Indiana from Livingston County, Illinois around 1900. In 1924, when Harmon was about 5 years old, his family moved to Gary, Indiana, but he still kept up connections with friends in Rensselaer, Indiana for many years.

Harmon attended Horace Mann High School in Gary, Indiana, graduating in 1937. While at Horace Mann High School, Harmon was already an outstanding athlete. In addition to 14 varsity letters, he was twice named All-State quarterback, Captain of the basketball team, and as a senior, won the 100 yard dash and the 200 yard low hurdles at the State Finals in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Harmon played college football at the University of Michigan from 1938–1940, he majored in English and Speech, hoping for a future career in broadcasting, and won the Heisman Trophy his senior season. He made his name as a tailback in the single-wing formation, and also excelled as a kicker. Harmon rushed for 2,134 yards during his career at Michigan, completed 100 passes for 1,304 yards and 16 touchdowns, and scored 237 points. During his career he played all 60 minutes 8 times.^[1] He also was a member of the varsity basketball team for two years.^[2]

In his final football game (against Ohio State), Harmon led the Wolverines to a 40–0 victory, scoring three rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, four extra points, intercepting three passes, and punting three times for an average of 50 yards. In an unprecedented display of sportsmanship and appreciation, the Ohio State fans in Columbus gave Harmon a standing ovation at game's end. No Wolverine player had been so honored, before or since.

He led the nation in scoring in 1939 and 1940 (a feat that remains unmatched),^[1] and was elected to the College Football All-America Team both years. His career points per game average of 9.9 stood as an NCAA record for ten seasons.^[3] In 1940, he won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award both given to the outstanding college football player of the year.

While on campus, he was an active member of the Michigan Alpha Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Years later, the national fraternity leadership established the Harmon-Rice Award in his honor (the Rice name in the award honored Grantland Rice) that is presented each year to the most outstanding Phi Delt collegiate athlete in the nation. In 2007, Harmon was ranked #16 on ESPN's Top 25 Players In College Football History list. Also, Harmon was ranked #5 on the Big Ten Networks' program "Big Ten Icons", honoring the greateast athletes in the Big Ten Conferences history.

NFL draft[link]

Harmon was taken by the Chicago Bears with the first selection in the NFL Draft. Instead he opted to play with the New York Americans of the rival American Football League. After graduating from college he had a brief career as an actor, starring as himself in the biopic Harmon of Michigan. He appeared occasionally in films throughout the forties and fifties.

World War II[link]

During World War II Tom Harmon enlisted as a pilot in the Army Air Corps on November 8, 1941. Early in 1943, Harmon parachuted into the South American Jungle when his plane flew into a tropical storm. None of the other crewmen bailed out or survived. He was the object of a massive regional search operation once his plane was reported missing. Four days later he stumbled into a clearing in Dutch Guiana. He transferred to single seat fighters.

He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for his actions with the 449th Fighter Squadron. These included having his plane shot down over Japanese occupied China. He saved his silk parachute and it was later used as the material for his wife's wedding dress.

Pro football career[link]

From 1946 to 1947 Harmon played football professionally with the Los Angeles Rams, but wartime injuries to his legs limited his effectiveness. He focused his professional career as planned on being a sports broadcaster on radio and television, one of the first athletes to make the transition from player to on-camera talent. In 1954, Harmon was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

After football[link]

Tom Harmon married actress Elyse Knox, and much of their family entered show business. He is the father of actress Kristin Nelson, who at seventeen married recording artist Ricky Nelson, and of actress Kelly Harmon. His son is actor and former UCLA quarterback Mark Harmon, who is married to actress Pam Dawber, and he is the grandfather of actress Tracy Nelson and twins Matthew Nelson and Gunnar Nelson, who perform as the rock and country music act Nelson.

Tom Harmon narrated the 1960s film "A Glimpse of Greatness-The Story of Ken Hubbs", which chronicles the life of the late Chicago Cubs second baseman. For several years in the 1970s, starting with its introduction, he was the TV spokesman for Kellogg's Product 19 cereal.

Tom Harmon's 10-minute broadcasts were a staple of the ABC and (later) American Information radio networks. He was seen on KTLA, Channel 5, Los Angeles, and in the early 1980s handled play-by-play duties for the Oakland Raiders pre-season telecasts.

Tom Harmon died of a heart attack on March 15, 1990 in Los Angeles, California, aged 70.

See also[link]

• List of Michigan Wolverines football All-Americans
• University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor

References[link]

External links[link]

• Tom Harmon at the College Football Hall of Fame
• Tom Harmon at the Heisman Trophy

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2012)

Mark Harmon
Born	Thomas Mark Harmon (1951-09-02) September 2, 1951 (age 60) Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1973–present
Spouse	Pam Dawber (m. March 21, 1987 – present)[1]
Children	Two sons (Sean and Ty)
Mark Harmon UCLA Bruins — No. 7 Quarterback 1972–1973 Major: Communications Date of birth: (1951-09-02) September 2, 1951 (age 60) Place of birth: Burbank, California Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Weight: 185 lb (84 kg) Career history High school: Harvard School for Boys Los Angeles, California  College(s): UCLA (1972–1973) Pierce College (1970–1971) Career highlights and awards 1971 National Junior College Athletic Association All-American 1973 National Football Foundation Award for All-Round Excellence 2010 Pierce College Athletic Hall of Fame

Mark Harmon (born September 2, 1951) is an American actor. Since the mid 1970s, he has appeared in a variety of television, film and stage roles following a brief career as a collegiate football player with the UCLA Bruins. Since 2003, Harmon has starred as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the hit CBS series NCIS.

Early life[link]

Harmon was born Thomas Mark Harmon in Burbank, California. His father was University of Michigan football All-American and Heisman Trophy winner, Tom Harmon. His mother was actress and artist, Elyse Knox (née Elsie Lillian Kornbrath).^[2] Harmon has two older sisters, actress and painter Kristin Nelson, the former wife of singer Ricky Nelson, and actress-model Kelly Harmon, who was once married to car magnate John DeLorean.

After attending Los Angeles Pierce College as a student and quarterback, Harmon transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, and following in his father's athletic footsteps was the starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins football team in 1972 and 1973.^[3][4] In UCLA's 1972 season he engineered a stunning upset of the two-time defending national champion, Nebraska Cornhuskers.^[5][6] He received the National Football Foundation Award for All-Round Excellence in 1973.^[3][7] In his two years as quarterback in coach Pepper Rodgers' wishbone offense, UCLA won 17 games and lost only 5. He graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Communication cum laude in 1974.

Career[link]

Mark Harmon in 2009 portraying Special Agent Gibbs in NCIS

Even though he considered "advertising or law" as careers after college,^[8] Harmon became an actor and has spent much of his career portraying law enforcement and medical personnel. Other than athletics/sports appearances, one of his first national TV appearances was with his father Tom Harmon, in a commercial for Kellogg's Product 19 cereal, for which the latter was the longtime TV spokesman. As an actor, his first credit came courtesy of his sister Kristen's in-laws, Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Nelson, in an episode of Ozzie's Girls. This was followed by guest-starring roles on episodes of Adam-12, Police Woman, and Emergency! in mid-1975 ("905-Wild" centered on two L.A. County Animal Control Officers and was a backdoor pilot episode for a series, but did not sell). Producer/creator Jack Webb, who was the packager of both series, later cast Harmon in Sam, a short-lived 1977 series about an LAPD officer and his K-9 partner. Also in 1977, Harmon received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for his performance as Robert Dunlap in the TV movie Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years.^[9]

During the mid 1970s, Harmon made guest appearances on shows such as Laverne & Shirley and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries and had supporting roles in the feature films Comes a Horseman (1978) and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979). He then landed a co-starring role on the 1979 action series 240-Robert as Deputy Dwayne Thibideaux. The series centered around the missions of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Emergency Services Detail, but was also short-lived.

In 1980, Harmon gained a regular role in the primetime soap opera Flamingo Road, in which he played Fielding Carlisle, the husband of Morgan Fairchild's character. Despite initially good ratings, the series was canceled after two seasons. Following its cancellation, he landed the role of Dr. Robert Caldwell on the prestigious NBC Emmy-winning series St. Elsewhere in 1983. Harmon appeared in the show for almost three seasons before leaving in early 1986 when his character contracted HIV through unprotected heterosexual intercourse, one of the first instances where a major recurring television character contracted the virus (the character's subsequent off-screen death from AIDS would be mentioned two years later). In the mid 1980s, Harmon also became the spokesperson for Coors Regular beer, appearing in television commercials for them.^[10]

Harmon's career reached several other high points in 1986. In January, he was named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. Following his departure from St. Elsewhere in February, he played the lead in the TV movies Prince of Bel Air and The Deliberate Stranger (in which he played serial killer Ted Bundy). With his career blossoming, he gained a role in the 1986 theatrical film Let's Get Harry and the lead role in the 1987 comedy Summer School (co-starring Kirstie Alley). Returning briefly to episodic television in 1987, Harmon had a limited engagement on the series Moonlighting, playing Cybill Shepherd's love interest Sam Crawford for four episodes. He then starred in the 1987 TV movie After The Promise. In 1988, he co-starred with Sean Connery and Meg Ryan in the 1988 feature film The Presidio, and also opposite Jodie Foster in the film Stealing Home. Despite several high profile roles, Harmon's film career never gathered momentum and, after a muted reception to his 1989 comedy Worth Winning, he returned to television, appearing in various television movies.

Harmon's next regular television role would be as Chicago police detective Dickie Cobb for two seasons (1991–1993) on the NBC series Reasonable Doubts. In 1993, he appeared in one episode in the role of a rodeo clown on the CBS comedy/western series Harts of the West with future cast mate Sean Murray, who plays McGee on NCIS.

In 1995, Harmon starred in the ABC series Charlie Grace, in which he portrayed a private investigator. The series lasted only one season, after which he returned to ensemble medical shows on the series Chicago Hope, in which he played Dr. Jack McNeil from 1996-2000. He also portrayed astronaut Wally Schirra in one episode of the 1998 mini-series From the Earth to the Moon.

In May 2002, he portrayed Secret Service Special Agent Simon Donovan on The West Wing in a four-episode story arc. The role gained him his second Emmy Award nomination, exactly 25 years after his first nomination.^[9] Harmon appeared in a guest starring role in two episodes of JAG in April 2003, which introduced the character of NCIS agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs; since 2003, Harmon has starred as Gibbs in the CBS drama NCIS. During his time on the show, he was reunited with three of his former Chicago Hope co-stars, Rocky Carroll, Lauren Holly, and Jayne Brook. Also in 2003, Harmon had a supporting role in the remake of the comedy film Freaky Friday.

Harmon also starred in several stage productions in Los Angeles and Toronto. At the Cast Theatre in Los Angeles he performed in Wrestlers and The Wager. In the late eighties he was part of the cast of the Canadian premier of Key Exchange. Several productions of Love Letters provided him the opportunity to play alongside wife Pam Dawber.^[1]

Awards and nominations[link]

Primetime Emmy Awards

• 1977: Nominated, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie - Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
• 2002: Nominated, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series - The West Wing

Golden Globe Awards

• 1986: Nominated, Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film - The Deliberate Stranger
• 1987: Nominated, Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film - After The Promise
• 1991: Nominated, Best Actor in a Television Series Drama - Reasonable Doubts
• 1992: Nominated, Best Actor in a Television Series Drama - Reasonable Doubts

Screen Actors Guild Awards

• 1996: Nominated, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series - Chicago Hope
• 1997: Nominated, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series - Chicago Hope

People's Choice Awards

• 2010: Nominated, Favorite TV Drama Actor - NCIS
• 2011: Nominated, Favorite TV Crime Fighter - NCIS

Personal life[link]

He worked as a carpenter before making a success of his acting career.^[11] On NCIS, his carpentry skills are alluded to through Gibbs' (his character) hobby of building boats in his basement.

Harmon has been married to actress Pam Dawber since March 21, 1987. The couple have two sons; Sean Thomas Harmon (born April 25, 1988, who played a young Gibbs in NCIS Season 6 Episode 4 and Episode 15, Season 7 Episode 16, Season 9 Episode 8 and 15), and Ty Christian Harmon (born June 25, 1992).^[12] Harmon was the brother-in-law of Ricky Nelson and is the uncle of actress Tracy Nelson and singers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson of the pop duo Nelson. Harmon dated singer Karen Carpenter in the 1970s.^[13]

In 1987, Harmon filed for custody of his nephew Sam based on grounds that his sister Kris was incapable of good parenting. Sam's psychiatrist testified the thirteen-year-old boy depicted his mother as a dragon, complained about her mood swings and how she prevented him from being with his siblings. Harmon later dropped the custody bid.^[14][15]

In 1996, Harmon saved two teenage boys involved in a car accident outside of his home. Harmon used a sledge hammer from his garage to break the window of their burning car, then pulled them free from the flames.^[16]

Filmography[link]

References[link]

Notes

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mark Harmon

• Mark Harmon at the Internet Movie Database
• Mark Harmon at TV Guide
• CBS profile
• Mark Harmon at Emmys.com

This article is an orphan, as few or no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; suggestions may be available. (December 2010)

Jeremy Wood is UK-based GPS artist. Over the past ten years Jeremy Wood has pioneered the act of drawing and mapping with satellite navigation technology and video by treating himself as a geodesic pencil. His everyday journeys are compiled to map his whereabouts and present a personal cartography that reveals a unique and detailed interaction with space and time. His work is an expression of the poetry and politics of space and reflects upon how we treat our travels and interact with location. He has received laudations ranging from Wired Magazine^[1] to cutting-edge academic theory, including a November 2009 feature in the peer-reviewed Cartographic Journal.^[2] Jeremy Wood is represented by Tenderpixel Gallery in London.

References[link]

Chris Fleming
Born	Christopher Fleming (1967-05-13) 13 May 1967 (age 45) Chicago, Illinois, USA
Alma mater	Beloit College
Occupation	Medium, paranormal researcher, Public Speaker
Television	Dead Famous Psychic Kids
Parents	Reggie Fleming
Website
ChristopherFleming.com

Christopher Fleming (born May 13, 1967) is an American medium, paranormal researcher, television personality, and public speaker. He has written numerous articles and produced various print and online publications on the topics of paranormal activity and psychic phenomena.

Fleming has appeared on several paranormal-themed television programs^[1] and is best known as the IPA award-winning^[2] co-host of the popular series Dead Famous (2004–06) which is still in syndication internationally. Fleming was also the co-host and featured psychic on A&E's Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal TV show.^[3] Fleming frequently speaks at events, colleges and universities throughout the United States about paranormal topics.^[4]

Early life and career[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2011)

Son of Chicago Blackhawks hockey player Reggie Fleming and Patricia Fleming, Chris Fleming was born in Chicago, Illinois, and is the oldest of two children. Raised Roman Catholic, he claims to have been experiencing spiritual and paranormal events since the age of four. He graduated in 1985 from William Fremd High School and 1989 from Beloit College in Wisconsin with a major in fine arts and minors in music and psychology with a specific concentration on Abnormal Psychology and Cognitive Psychology as well as Lateral Thinking and Creative Thinking. He played football in high school and college as receiver and running back. While studying fine art in his second year at Beloit, he was the first student to have his own art show Sophomore year. He went on to have two separate art shows his senior year due to his two different art styles; action painting reminiscent of Jackson Pollock and Pop Art influenced by Andy Warhol and Kenny Scharf. Two of his paintings (Titled Major Panic and 4th of July) were leased from the college for three years after his graduation, and one was used as a design for the class of '89's graduation pamphlet. One of his paintings is part of a permanent collection at the Wright Museum of Art in Beloit, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Alpha Zeta Chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity and was voted historian from 1987-89.

After college, Chris worked as a graphic designer from 1990-1994 at Pioneer Press in Barrington, IL and then as an art director at Advo, Inc 1995-1997, creating marketing campaigns for companies such as Venture, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and various local and chain stores throughout the Chicago land area. He left the industry working as a freelance designer for his fathers company Reg Fleming Industries, Inc., completing commissioned works, and painting murals at such establishments as Harry D's Restaurant in Deerfield, IL. While designing a corporate identity campaign for Sterling Mortgage, Inc in Chicago, IL he was coached by the president on how to be a loan officer. He quickly dived into the mortgage industry while maintaining his graphic design business Artform Graphics, Inc. Late one night, during conversations with other loan officers over pizza, a co-worker told a story about a ghost he had seen the night before. Peers and co-workers from different backgrounds and cultures also shared their personal stories. Listening to their compelling stories gave Chris an idea. After a trip to the local newsstand to pick up the latest copies of Fate (magazine) and UFO Magazine, he decided to use his graphic design abilities to publish his own periodical, Unknown Magazine. For the next four years he created and marketed the publication. Additionally, he spoke on radio and television all over the world about his own personal experiences and the other, amazing stories he featured in the magazine. His belief was that people all over the world were having extraordinary experiences that could not be fully explained. Chris continued working in the Mortgage industry of the United States from 1997-2010 as a loan officer for such companies as Pillar Financial, LLC in Palatine, IL and 1st American Mortgage in Schaumburg, IL, until resigning to concentrate more on his passion for paranormal research, traveling, speaking and book-writing.

Chris continued sports in local communities playing mens softball and full contact Flag football. In the late 90's he coached and played on a full contact Flag football team he put together called The Raptors in Lake Zurich, IL. Over three years they went 34-5, losing the championship their first year. Their second year they went undefeated and in their third year, lost four games. An unfortunate, season-ending knee injury in his third year made him leave sports entirely.

In the early 90's he began investigating with local ghost gunting groups around Chicago land and at local haunts visiting such sites as Red Lion Pub in Chicago, IL and Bachelor's Grove Cemetery in Midlothian, IL.

Career as a Medium[link]

In Fleming's publications, and in his television and public appearances, he claims that he has been having psychic and paranormal experiences since the age of four. He claims that their movement via thoughts and their telepathic abilities eventually became more of an interest of study rather than a fear. Over a period of time he claims he was in contact with a spirit named Henry that would warn him about other ghosts and entities as well as tell him things about the universe and people he knew. One conversation with Henry, in particular, stands out in Fleming's writings and lectures. Fleming claims that when he asked Henry if there was any life on planets in the Solar System, the response was on "Europa" and when asked what type of life, the response was, "Plant and bacteria." Fleming claims to have conversed with Henry on the Ouija board from 1975–79 before Henry stopped interacting with Fleming. It wasn't until the late 1990s that Fleming overheard on CNN that scientists now believe there is life on Europa, one of planet Jupiter's moons.^[5][6] Chris currently travels around to speak at events, colleges, and universities about various paranormal topics.

Television and radio appearances[link]

In 1985, Chris won a contest on WVVX 103.1 (Now known as WVIV-FM ) for the Angus Young look-alike contest. He appeared on stage with AC/DC during their Who Made Who Tour at Poplar Creek Music Theater for the opening number "Who Made Who" and was selected the winner out of 8 finalists. He appeared on the WVVX radio show with Scott Loftus afterwards and won a replica of Angus Young's Gibson SG guitar and their entire AC/DC catalog.

For three years(2004–2006), Fleming was the co-host of the popular TV show Dead Famous, where he joined co-host Gail Porter in search of celebrity ghosts across the United States. Their search took them not only to grave sites, but to some of the most reportedly haunted locations in the U.S. The show is still being broadcast in over fifteen countries, including the Bravo network in Canada, Living TV in the UK, and The Biography Channel in the U.S. The three season span consisted of 26 episodes, two "Return" specials and three live episodes.

In 2007, Fleming made a guest appearance on Syfy's Ghost Hunters during the Manson Murders episode that sparked controversy with the introduction of the K-2 meter (EMF meter) and Fleming's method of communicating with the present intelligent energy. Eventually it was taken more seriously and accepted as a new form of investigation with EMF devices and electronic equipment called the "Direct Response Method." It is theorized that an alleged ghost or spirit energy present can affect and manipulate the device(s) to signal "yes" or "no" through ambient fluctuations in the EMF field.

In addition to Psychic Kids, Dead Famous, and Ghost Hunters, Fleming has also made appearances on Born Country, Ghost Adventures, Larry King Live, Reality Obsessed, Scariest Places on Earth, Showbiz Tonight, The Haunted, Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, and Paranormal Challenge.^[1]

In 2009, Fleming received the International Paranormal Acknowledgment (IPA) Awards for Best Spiritual/Psychic Medium Male TV Personality, Best National Spirit Medium Male, and Best International Paranormal TV Program winner: Dead Famous.^[2]

Fleming documented his father, Reggie Fleming from 2007-2009 while his father attempted to recover from a stroke and heart attack. He resided at the Claremont Rehab and Living Center in Buffalo Grove, IL before he passed on July 11, 2009. The videos can be seen on YouTube and have been seemingly praised by children and parents across the globe in their comments and responses. It has sparked Chris to begin writing a book about his father and the last years they shared together.

In 2011, Fleming made an appearance with the Paranormal Cops on an Italian TV series called, "Voyagers." They investigated the allegedly haunted building known as Casa Madrid in Chicago, IL and their voices were dubbed in Italian.

In 2011 Fleming co-produced along with Picture Shack Entertainment a one hour special called "Raising The Dead" about his shamanistic trip to Jamaica to learn the practice of Obeah and Myal. The special is set to air on Animal Planet sometime in 2012.

[edit] Unknown Magazine

After months of being approached and hearing others talk about their own amazing experiences, Fleming chose to document these by creating his own publication called Unknown Magazine: Real Experiences of Unusual Phenomena, which ran from 1997 to 2001. As publisher, art director, writer, and editor, Fleming set out to create a magazine for people across the globe through which to share their first-hand encounters.

In 1997, Fleming launched UnknownMagazine.com. In 2001, he stopped production of Unknown Magazine, but continued his work solely through the website. Fleming currently hosts and produces a monthly, online podcast, Spirit Talk. This podcast focuses on supernatural, paranormal, and spiritual topics with some of the worlds most intriguing experts and pioneers.^[7]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Unknown Magazine
• IMDB [1]
• Chrisfleming.TV
• Reggie Fleming Videos

Ken Cuccinelli
Cuccinelli in October 2011.
Attorney General of Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office January 16, 2010
Preceded by	Bill Mims
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 37th district
In office August 2002 – January 12, 2010
Preceded by	Warren Barry
Succeeded by	David W. Marsden
Personal details
Born	Kenneth Thomas Cuccinelli II (1968-07-30) July 30, 1968 (age 43) Edison, New Jersey
Political party	Republican Party
Spouse(s)	Alice Monteiro 'Teiro' Cuccinelli
Children	7 (five daughters and two sons)
Residence	Fairfax County, Virginia
Alma mater	University of Virginia George Mason University George Mason University School of Law
Profession	Litigation & Business Attorney
Committees	Courts of Justice Committee, Transportation Committee, Local Government Committee, Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee, and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee.
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	www.cuccinelli.com

Kenneth Thomas "Ken" Cuccinelli II (born July 30, 1968) is a U.S. politician and the Attorney General of Virginia.^[1] From 2002 until January 16, 2010 he was a Republican member of the Senate of Virginia, representing the 37th district in Fairfax County.^[2][3] A Republican convention selected him over two other candidates to run against Democrat Steve Shannon for Attorney General,^[4] and he won the November 2009 general election.^[5] He took office as Virginia's Attorney General in January 2010. He is seeking the Republican nomination for Governor of Virginia in 2013.^[6]

Early life, education, and early career[link]

Cuccinelli was born in Edison, New Jersey. He graduated from Gonzaga College High School in 1986,^[7] and received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia, a J.D. degree from George Mason University School of Law, and an M.A. in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University.^[3]

Cuccinelli has served on a number of state commissions, including:^[8]

• Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Project
• Public / Private Partnership Advisory Commission
• Commission on the Prevention of Human Trafficking
• Joint Subcommittee to Study Liability Protections for Health Care Providers
• Virginia Supreme Court Commission on Mental Health in the Justice System

Cuccinelli cofounded a small, general practice law firm in Fairfax City, Virginia.^[9]

Early political career[link]

While a 4th year student during the 1989-1990 academic year at the University of Virginia, Cuccinelli served on the University's Judiciary Committee.

Cuccinelli was elected to the Senate in an August 2002 special election after his predecessor, Republican Warren Barry, resigned to take a seat on the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.^[10] Cuccinelli was reelected in 2003 and 2007, with the latter race being close enough to require a recount. Cuccinelli would go on to win by a margin of 98 votes out of about 37,000 cast.^[11]

In the Senate Cuccinelli sat on the Courts of Justice, Local Government, Rehabilitation and Social Services, and Transportation Committees.^[2] During his time in the Senate Cuccinelli took conservative positions on issues including abortion, gay marriage, illegal immigration, taxes, government spending, property rights, and the second amendment, while advocating on behalf of law enforcement and increased care for the mentally disabled.^[12]

2009 Attorney General election[link]

On May 30, 2009, delegates at the Republican Party of Virginia State Convention selected Cuccinelli over two other candidates to become the Republican nominee for Attorney General.^[13] In the November 2009 general election, Cuccinelli obtained 58% of the vote (1,123,816 votes) to Steve Shannon's 42% (828,221 votes). In a Republican sweep of Virginia's state-wide offices, Cuccinelli was joined by Bob McDonnell as Governor and Bill Bolling as Lt. Governor.

Endorsements[link]

In addition to the NRA and Republican National Coalition for Life, Cuccinelli was endorsed by Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Fred Thompson, Morton Blackwell, William A. Zimmerman, Virginia Citizens Defense League PAC, Virginia Shooting Sports Association, Eagle Forum PAC, Congressman Rob Wittman, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia, the Lincoln, Douglass & Washington Society, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Virginia Farm Bureau, and the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police.^[14]

Cuccinelli received editorial board endorsements from the Richmond Times-Dispatch,^[15] The Daily Progress,^[16] and Culpeper Star-Exponent.^[17] The Daily Progress based their endorsement on Cuccinelli’s “mature, considered, and well-balanced approach,” while the Star-Exponent gave a “slight edge to Cuccinelli for his proactive solutions, legal expertise, fighting disposition and strong conservative moorings.”

Several papers who chose not to endorse Cuccinelli wrote editorials critical of his political views. According to the Virginian Pilot, “Cuccinelli’s election would bring embarrassment to Virginia, instability to the state’s law firm and untold harm to the long list of people who don’t fit his personal definition of morality.”^[18] The Washington Post echoed a similar sentiment, writing, “given his bizarre ideas, he would very likely become an embarrassment for the commonwealth” in an editorial titled "Mr. Cuccinelli's Bigotry"^[19]

Attorney General of Virginia[link]

Cuccinelli's office reviews each bill passed by the General Assembly for Constitutionality and consistency with other existing laws.^[20] Two weeks after taking office, Cuccinelli drew cricitism for continuing to represent a private client in a court proceeding; however, his appearance did not violate any state laws or rules.^[21]

On August 23, 2010, Cuccinelli issued a legal opinion concluding that the Virginia Board of Health had the power to require abortion clinics to meet hospital-type standards, even though the General Assembly had rejected legislation to achieve the same result. Under current law, abortion clinics can perform first trimester abortions while second and third trimester abortions are performed in hospitals. From 2002 to 2008, bills were introduced that sought to treat abortion clinics as "ambulatory surgery centers" and require them to meet hospital-type regulations, but the bills did not pass. Pro-choice advocates argue that complying with ambulatory surgery center regulations would make abortions more expensive and force some clinics to close. It does not appear that the Board of Health will regulate abortion clinics based on Cuccinelli's opinion.^[22]

Healthcare[link]

On March 23, 2010, Cuccinelli filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia challenging the constitutionality of the Federal Health Care bill passed on March 21, claiming that it exceeded the Federal government's power under the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution.^[23] On May 24, 2010, the federal government responded to Virginia’s lawsuit over the recently enacted federal health care law with a motion to dismiss the suit. The Federal Government argues 1) that as of matter of jurisdiction and procedure, Virginia has no right to bring this case now, 2) that Congress has the authority under the Constitution’s Commerce Clause to order Americans to buy health insurance and 3) that the health insurance mandate is lawful under the Taxing and Spending Clause of the Constitution.^[24] On June 7, 2010 Virginia responded to the federal government’s motion to dismiss the state’s lawsuit.^[25]

On July 1, 2010, Federal district court judge Henry E. Hudson heard arguments on the motion to dismiss the suit. On August 2, Judge Hudson ruled that the case can go forward^[26] and a two-hour summary judgment hearing was held on October 18, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. to address the constitutional claims.^[27] The hearing focused on whether the entire law must be invalidated if the requirement that individuals purchase insurance is held unconstitutional and whether the requirement to purchase insurance is a "tax" or a "penalty."^[28] On December 13, 2010, Judge Hudson ruled that the individual mandate portion of the health care bill was unconstitutional, but did not enjoin the implementation of the law.^[29][30]

Immigration[link]

On July 14, 2010, Cuccinelli joined eight other states in filing an amicus brief opposing the federal government's lawsuit challenging an Arizona immigration enforcement statute.^[31]

On August 2, 2010, Cuccinelli issued a legal opinion authorizing law enforcement officials to investigate the immigration status of anyone that they have stopped. Prior to this opinion, law enforcement investigated immigration status of those actually arrested. Cuccinelli noted that the authority to investigate the immigration status of a stopped person should not "extend the duration of a stop by any significant degree." Critics note that the opinion circumvents changing the policy by legislation and that bills to make this change have died in the General Assembly.^[32] In November 2010, Cuccinelli rendered a legal opinion requested by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William) regarding a legislative proposal from Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart to expand an anti-immigration county ordinance into a state-wide law. Cuccinelli opined that some provisions would be redundant with existing laws and others would be unconstitutional.^[33]

Gay rights[link]

On March 4, 2010, one month after Governor Bob McDonnell issued an Executive Order which did not include protections for gays and lesbians employed by the Commonwealth, Cuccinelli issued a letter to Virginia's public colleges and universities that said, in part, "It is my advice that the law and public policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia prohibit a college or university from including 'sexual orientation,' 'gender identity,' 'gender expression,' or like classification as a protected class within its non-discrimination policy absent specific authorization from the General Assembly,"^[34] He then advised that the schools should "take appropriate actions to bring their policies in conformance with the law and public policy of Virginia."^[35] According to the Washington Post, "leaders of academia attacked the state directive on several fronts"^[36] including criticisms from the American Association of University Professors and Cuccinelli's own alma mater, the University of Virginia.^[36]

On March 10, 2010, McDonnell issued Executive Directive One (a statement of executive policy) to all state agency heads directing them not to fire employees based on sexual orientation.^[37] Despite the controversy, Cuccinelli stood by his letter, saying state universities are governed by the Dillon rule and had inadvertently circumvented state law.^[38] In a letter written to the University of Virginia community (Cuccinelli's alma mater), state senators Creigh Deeds, Mark Herring and Ralph Northam pointed out that McDonnell's directive was only a directive and did not "carry any weight of law" and would still prevent students or employees "who are discriminated against because of their sexual orientation" from seeking "a course of action". They further added, "the University of Virginia is more than capable of deciding what policies advance its mission, and should do so without meddling from Attorney General Cuccinelli."^[39] The Washington Post also noted that the Directive was not "legally-binding".^[40] Governor McDonnell stated in a subsequent interview that though he supported the acknowledged the legal reasoning of Cuccinelli's letter, he would not permit colleges or other state agencies to practice discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Despite Cuccinelli's lack of support on college campuses, support came to him through other groups: the Family Foundation emailed supporters with the subject reading "AG Follows Law, Gets Ripped" opposed any push to have the legislature address the issue.^[36]

Environmental policies[link]

On February 16, 2010, Cuccinelli filed a request with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reopen its proceeding regarding EPA's finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health. He also sought judicial review of EPA's finding in Federal court. His press statement explained, "We cannot allow unelected bureaucrats with political agendas to use falsified data to regulate American industry and drive our economy into the ground”.^[41] On March 19, Cuccinelli announced that the total number of states supporting Virginia’s position is now at least 15. “While we made the decision to intervene based on what was in the best interests of Virginia and her citizens, it is gratifying to have the support of so many other states,” said Cuccinelli.^[42]

On April 1, 2010, Cuccinelli announced he will be challenging the new March 2010 standards for fuel efficiency for cars and trucks finalized by the Obama administration and Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act.^[43][44] The new standards move up goals set in December 2007 when President Bush signed The Energy Independence and Security Act, which passed on a bipartisan vote of 314 to 100, which set the higher fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks by law for the first time in 32 years.^[45]

Litigation with University of Virginia[link]

In April 2010, Cuccinelli served a civil investigative demand on the University of Virginia seeking a broad range of documents related to Michael E. Mann, a climate researcher now at Penn State who was an assistant professor at UVA from 1999 to 2005.^[46][47] Cuccinelli is investigating Mann's putative violation of the 2002 Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act, although no evidence of wrongdoing was given to explain the invocation of the law.^[48] While climate change skeptics have challenged Mann's work, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a Penn State investigation cleared Mann of charges that he falsified or suppressed data^[49] The Washington Post quotes Rachel Levinson, senior counsel with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) as saying Cuccinelli's request had "echoes of McCarthyism."^[50] A. Barton Hinkle of the Richmond Times-Dispatch criticized Cuccinelli for "employing a very expansive reading of Virginia’s Fraud Against Taxpayers Act," writing:^[51]

This is not a maneuver gracefully executed by an Attorney General who is arguing, in the ObamaCare case, against Washington’s overly expansive reading of the Commerce Clause. How does Cuccinelli explain adopting the narrowest possible interpretation of the relevant language in that case, and the broadest possible interpretation of the relevant language in the Mann case? ... . Nothing about the Mann case evokes a sense of modesty or restraint. If Cuccinelli wants to rein in government power, then he could start at home.

Among the groups urging the University of Virginia to resist producing the data are: a letter published in Science signed by 255 members of the United States National Academy of Sciences, the American Civil Liberties Union and the AAUP.^[47] Also in May 2010, the University of Virginia Faculty Senate Executive Council wrote a letter strongly rebuking Cuccinelli for his civil investigative demand of the Mann records, stating that "[Cuccinelli's] action and the potential threat of legal prosecution of scientific endeavor that has satisfied peer-review standards send a chilling message to scientists engaged in basic research involving Earth’s climate and indeed to scholars in any discipline."^[52] In 2011 in response to the escalating attacks form the Virginia AG's office, the Union of Concerned Scientists published a defense of scientific integrity and "Timeline: Legal Harassment of Climate Scientist Michael Mann".^[53]

On May 27, 2010, the University of Virginia began legal proceedings by filing a petition to resist Cuccinelli's investigative demand. In addition to challenging the investigative demands on academic freedom grounds, the petition states that Virginia's "Fraud Against Taxpayers Act" (FATA) cited by Cuccinelli is not applicable in this case, as four of the five grants were federal, and that the fifth was an internal University of Virginia grant originally awarded in 2001. The FATA was enacted in 2003, and it is not retroactive.^[54][55]

On August 20, 2010, Albermarle Circuit Court Judge Paul Peatross heard argument on when Cuccinelli should get the requested data, including emails between Mann and his research assistants, secretaries and 39 other scientists across the country.^[56] On August 30, 2010, the judge ruled that while the Virginia Attorney General could investigate state grants awarded to scientists, Cuccinelli and his staff failed to demonstrate that such an investigation was warranted in this case. “The nature of the conduct is not stated so that any reasonable person could glean what Dr. Mann did to violate the statute,” the judge wrote,^[57] “… The Court … understands the controversy regarding Dr. Mann’s work on the issue of global warming. However, it is not clear what he did that was misleading, false or fraudulent in obtaining funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia.” At this point, Cuccinelli can either rewrite the civil investigative demand or appeal the decision.^[58][59] Cuccinelli has filed a notice of appeal of the judge's ruling.^[60]

On September 29, 2010 Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sent a new civil subpoena to the University of Virginia renewing a demand for documents related to the work of Mann that was stymied when a judge blocked his previous request. Cuccinelli has narrowed his request, and has now limited the request to documents related to a grant that funded research unrelated to climate change. However, the demand seeks emails between Mann and 39 other climate change scientists.^[60] Mann has been previously investigated by those who, like Cuccinelli, do argue that the science behind global warming is sound. The Washington Post described Cuccinelli's actions as an "anti-climate science crusade"^[61] and expressed fears that it was a "fishing expedition designed to intimidate and suppress honest research and the free exchange of ideas upon which science and academia both depend — all because he does not like what science says about climate change".

Campaign contributions controversy[link]

Cuccinelli has been criticized for his handling of $55,500 in campaign contributions from Bobby Thompson, who was a director of a veterans group now under investigation, the U.S. Navy Veterans Association. Thompson was Cuccinelli's second-largest campaign donor.^[62][63] After receiving the contribution, Cuccinelli met with Samuel F. Wright, a USNVA representative on February 15, 2010, to discuss legislation which had passed the State Senate that would exempt the group from having to register with Virginia regulators.^[64]

After an investigative report in the St. Petersberg Times in March 2010 raised questions about the Navy Veterans Association and Thompson, all other Virginia politicians, including Gov. Bob McDonnell, have given the contributions from Thompson to other veterans' organizations. At that time, Cuccinelli refused to do so, despite calls from Virginia Democrats. Cuccinelli's spokesman said "if Mr. Thompson was convicted of wrongdoing relative to the misappropriation of funds, and contributions to our campaign came from money that was supposed to go to active duty military or veterans, we would donate those contributions to military support organizations here in Virginia."^[63] Sen. Don McEachin asserted that the standard for donations should be "much higher than that."^[65] A month later in June, a Cuccinelli spokesman said $55,500 would be set aside in a restricted account pending the outcome of the investigation into Thompson and USNVA.^[66] On July 28, 2010, Cuccinelli announced that he will donate the $55,000 to veterans charities in Virginia. Cuccinelli stated that his decision was prompted by statements from Thompson's lawyers indicating that Thompson can no longer be located.^[67] The Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray announced that a nation-wide arrest warrant had issued for Bobby Thompson, who had stolen the identity and Social Security Number of a victim who was not connected to the USNVA. Corday stated, “We know he bilked Ohioans out of at least $1.9 million, and we estimate that nationally he collected at least $20 million.”^[68]

Virginia seal[link]

Cuccinelli caused a small controversy when he used a historical state seal which shows Virtus, the Roman goddess of bravery and military strength, carrying a breastplate to cover her left breast on lapel pins he provided as gifts to his office staff.^[69][70] The current official seal shows Virtus holding a spear and her left breast is exposed. The original state seal was designed by George Wythe, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and adopted in 1776.^[71] The historic seal on which Cuccinelli's version is based is a Confederate-era seal that appeared on the flag of a Virginia unit in the American Civil War.^[72] Cuccinelli's spokesman, Brian Gottstein, said lapel pins with the breast covered were paid for by Cuccinelli’s political action committee, not with taxpayer funds. On May 3, following media coverage, Cuccinelli announced that he was dropping his "family friendly" version of the seal.^[73][74] He stated, "I cannot believe that joking with my staff about Virtue being a little more ‘virtuous’ in this antique version has become news."^[72]